NEW YORK (Variety) - Mark Wahlberg is hatching "The Entourage," a comedy series for HBO about the chaotic existence of the core group of people behind a movie star.

Along with his manager Steve Levinson of Leverage Ent., Wahlberg will executive produce and develop the series, which hopes to do for assistants, bodyguards, agents, lawyers and publicists of an A-list feature star what "The Larry Sanders Show" did for the harried staff of a late night talk show.

The show is the first attempt as a series creation for Wahlberg, who will not star but expects to be involved behind the scenes. HBO has ordered a pilot script, which will be written by Doug Ellin ("Kissing A Fool"). While the movie star will likely be seen only in glimpses, it is unclear yet whether they will target a real one who might cameo or get a fictional composite of a star like Wahlberg's "Perfect Storm" captain George Clooney or Bruce Willis.

Mark Wahlberg knows fake showbiz, having impersonated a porn star in ''Boogie Nights'' and a metal band frontman (actually, a fake metal band frontman) in ''Rock Star.'' So it's no surprise that he's developing a pilot called ''Entourage,'' a series about the assistants and hangers-on of an A-list movie star. It'll be an HBO comedy in the vein of ''The Larry Sanders Show,'' though it's not clear if the fake hangers-on will work for a real star (who will be spotted only in occasional glimpses) or a fake one. Wahlberg will produce but not act in the show.
http://www.ew.com/ew/report/0,6115,216389-2-3~1~0~,00.html

A year & and a half since it was first proposed, HBO has ordered a pilot of The Entourage according to Variety. They report Mark will be making cameos in the show as well as other to be named stars. Hmm, perhaps George Clooney?

However, this does not guarantee it will actually air. HBO had shows by Steven Bochco and Barry Levinson and both were dumped. So cross your fingers and save some pennies for HBO.

The prototype for the star is as much Wahlberg as Leonardo DiCaprio or Tobey Maguire, young actors from modest origins who abruptly became millionaires.

The pilot episode will deal with the star's plan to return home for a high school reunion the same week the biggest movie of his career is set to open.

The Hollywood Reporter reports The Entourage has been cast and Mark will be making a cameo in the pilot which is lensing this month. Adrian Grenier and Jeremy Piven star in Mark's executive produced venture: "Entourage" centers on movie star Vince Chase (Grenier) and his closest circle. Piven is set to play Chase's agent, Ari Jacobs. Kevin Connelly and Jerry Ferrara will play Chase's best buddies, while Kevin Dillon will play his older brother.

Courtney Peldon (Fox's "Boston Public ), Arielle Kebbel ("Soul Plane") and Angela Patterson also have been cast in the pilot, which started filming this month in Los Angeles.

[...]Emmy winner David Frankel (HBO's "Band of Brothers") has come on board to direct.

Zapit also had this: ... the pilot, which was written by Doug Ellin ("Kissing a Fool" and Steve Tompkins ("The Simpsons," "The Bernie Mac Show").